Delicious Ingredients: December 17-23, 2016

Each week I will publish the most Delicious Ingredients of my Audible Feast … the scrumptious, delectable, savory, rich, sweet, spicy, and best podcasts that have fed my ears this week. All episode descriptions and artwork come from the linked sites. (Note: I also try to track every episode I listen to here.)

Note to Self: Messages from the Beyond (12/20/16): What it’s about: “Ginger Johnson is battling cancer. She’s also preparing her digital legacy. Ginger has three amazing children, and she wants to stay in their lives, even after she’s gone. That’s why she’s using a service that helps her make messages and then schedules them for delivery in the future. Videos, audio recordings, emails and photos, pegged to specific days and personal milestones. Moran Zur created this service, Safe Beyond, after his own father died of cancer. He wanted to give people a chance to be remembered as they choose, not through Google search results or in a hospital bed. As vibrant people, full of wisdom. Full of, well, life. Can Silicon Valley really help us cheat death? And what does it mean for the people we leave behind?” Why it’s great: I want to listen to audio that makes me think about something new. This episode made me think not about whether I’d send messages back to my kids after I die, but what my legacy really means. Super thought provoking, though that’s not exactly where Note to Self took the narrative. (28 minutes) Twitter: @notetoself

Death, Sex & Money: My Awkward Money Talk with Sallie Krawcheck (12/20/16): What it’s about: “Former bank executive Sallie Krawcheck says she’s comfortable talking about other people’s money. But when it comes to her own money—that’s a different story.” Why it’s great: Awkward is a great descriptor for this episode. I’m so glad Sale published it, vs. editing out the awkwardness or not sharing it at all. Krawcheck admits that what they’re talking about that causes the discomfort is something she’s trying to change, or at least address, in her current business ventures. It was yet another honest look at money from DSM. (28 minutes) Twitter: @deathsexmoney

The Inquiry: Should We Give Homeless People Homes? (12/20/16): What it’s about: “It’s a surprisingly simple idea: to end long-term homelessness, give every person living on the streets a home. It can also be surprisingly effective. Medicine Hat, a city in Canada, recently became the first city to end homelessness in this way. The approach is known as Housing First, and – unlike many other homelessness initiatives – it doesn’t require homeless people to make steps towards solving other issues like alcoholism, mental health problems or drug addiction before they get a home. But is this approach solving the problem, or simply moving it off the streets?” Why it’s great: There are only two answers to this inquiry: yes or no. It was fascinating to me to listen to the different approaches toward helping the chronically homeless get off the streets. (23 minutes) Twitter: @bbctheinquiry

Terrible, Thanks for Asking, Episode 4: Me, Too (12/19/16): What it’s about: “Danni Starr had everything she wanted: an enviable career, a husband, and, finally…her first baby. But off the air, motherhood wasn’t what she expected it to be. She had taken all the classes, read all the books, bought all the stuff…but nothing had prepared her for what was to come.” Why it’s great: TTFA has been on the Delicious Ingredients for three of the last four weeks. I listen to about 50 episodes a week. It rises to the top every time. This episode is about post partum depression, from someone who was in it, explaining exactly how she was feeling and the extent to which she was depressed. I love this show. (40 minutes) Twitter: @ttfapodcast

The Hilarious World of Depression, Episode 1: Peter Sagal Opens Up (12/12/16): What it’s about: “The longtime host of NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me has battled depression for much of his life but has never gone public with that struggle until now. Sagal recently went through what was for him a very painful and very messy divorce. He shares how he’s been able to move on and host a weekly comedy program even as his life was falling apart. Some of the methods: keeping very busy and listening to Amy Poehler. We also hear from Peter Sagal’s friend, the neuroscientist Daniel Levitin, on what helps and hurts a depressed person’s brain in times of crisis.” Why it’s great: As with TTFA, I appreciate the destigmatization of mental health issues. Mental health conditions are nothing to be ashamed of and I can’t wait to hear more from this show. (38 minutes) Twitter: @johnmoe

What do you think of these episodes? Any specific episodes I HAVE to listen to from this week? Leave me a comment or contact me directly at audiblefeast@gmail.com!